What Carlos Sainz Sr was really thinking when he hugged Ferrari staff after Mexico City Grand Prix

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Carlos Sainz claimed what could be his final victory as a Ferrari driver at the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend. It was an accomplished drive from the Spaniard, who converted a sublime pole position.

Sainz wanted to sign off with at least one more win before he left the team at the end of the season. He hasn’t stood on the top step since round three in Australia back in March.

Charles Leclerc has won three times since then, twice in the four-race run between Italy and the United States. But this time it was the Spaniard who had the edge.

Sainz lapped more than two-tenths faster than Max Verstappen on Saturday, setting two times that were good enough for pole position. The reigning world champion got past him at the start, but it wasn’t long before he muscled his way back in front.

The 30-year-old proceeded to build a healthy lead over Leclerc, who later lost P2 to Lando Norris. Sainz eventually crossed the line with a margin of 4.7 seconds.

There are just four races remaining before he departs Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton set to replace him. He’ll be joining Williams – currently eighth in the standings – as Alex Albon’s teammate.

Carlos Sainz Sr remembers that Ferrari ‘didn’t trust’ his son

The victory, Sainz’s fourth since making his F1 debut in 2015, was especially meaningful because his whole family was present. He celebrated with his father, racing driver Carlos Sainz Sr, in the pit lane afterwards.

Sainz Sr was seen hugging Ferrari staff, but DAZN broadcaster Antonio Lobato suggested it was a hollow embrace. He will privately resent the fact that they didn’t ‘trust’ his son.

“Yes, yes, now we have to hug each other,” Lobato said over the footage. “You didn’t trust us, you replaced him, but we’re still here fighting and showing what we’re capable of.”

Sainz is fifth in the championship, 51 points behind Leclerc. Together, they could deliver Ferrari’s first constructors’ title since 2008 after narrowing McLaren’s lead to 29.

Martin Brundle shares the behind-the-scenes issues that stopped Carlos Sainz joining Red Bull

Ferrari didn’t sack Sainz, instead letting him go as he approached the end of his contract. But there were still two top teams who had seats available.

Indeed, Mercedes could have signed Sainz in an inadvertent ‘swap’ with Ferrari. However, they decided to promote academy driver Kimi Antonelli instead.

Martin Brundle says Sainz couldn’t join Red Bull because of the ‘feisty’ dynamic between his father and Jos Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015. Christian Horner may otherwise have seen him as the ideal replacement for Sergio Perez.

Albon thinks Williams can win by 2027 but it’s hard to predict the long-term future in F1 with confidence. It’s feasible that Sainz has won his last race, but equally he could return to the front of the grid further down the line.